Don Payne had a breakout season in 2023. Not only did he make his first career NFR, but he also took home the NFR Average title and finished the season No. 6 in the PRCA Steer Wrestling World Standings with over $218,000 in earnings. Mind you, this was the guy wearing the very last back number at the entire Finals in 2023.
Payne followed up his breakout year with another great season where he earned $119,939, the most he ever has in a regular season, and finished the year No. 7 in the Steer Wrestling World Standings.
Woodward Elks Rodeo, $2,503
Payne was 3.8 seconds at the Woodward Elks Rodeo to take second place and earn over $2,500. Payne was two tenths off the pace set by Jarek VanPettern at the one-header.
He also took third at the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo and fifth at the Coleman PRCA Rodeo that same weekend, which combined to pay him another $3,000.
Greeley Stampede, $9,002
One of the most lucrative weekends of the year for Payne came at the Greeley Stampede. He opened with a 4.2-second run which was good for eighth in the First Round. In his second run, Payne was 3.4 seconds to place third and earn the first $3,000 of the weekend. In the Finals, he was once again 4.2 seconds which earned him a small payday. More importantly, he placed second in the average to take home another $5,500. With an aggregate time of 11.8 seconds, he was one tenth away from Logan Kenline.
Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo, $14,500
The highest-paying rodeo for Payne came in Salt Lake City at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo. After a 5.1-second run in the Progressive Round got him into the performances, he was 4.5 to take second in the Second Performance, which would advance him to the Gold Medal Round. There, he was 3.9 seconds to collect a $13,000 payday.
Douglas County Fair and Rodeo, $2,999
Payne qualified for his second NFR thanks to several $1,000 to $5,000 wins. He only had one rodeo pay him over $10,000 throughout the entire year. His consistency at the smaller rodeos like the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo is why he is in the Top 10. Payne was 3.8 seconds in Douglas County to place third.
Colorado State Fair and Rodeo, $3,346
Payne was 9.9 on two at the Colorado State Fair and Rodeo to take home a total of $3,346. In the First Round, he was sixth after a 5.5-second run. In the Second Round, he posted a solid time of 4.4 seconds to finish second in the round and third in the Average.
Cinch Playoffs Puyallup, $4,950
Payne earned a nice paycheck in Puyallup after a Second Round run of 4.0 seconds. Payne wasn’t great in his other three runs but was still able to take home nearly $5,000 thanks to his Round 2 performance.
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